The drug rebellion fighting big pharma to save the NHS millions

Big pharma makes a killing off deadly diseases. Now people are fighting back, setting up buyers clubs and challenging patents, to curb global drug price gouging

Not sick enough for pricey drugs?

Phanie / Alamy Stock Photo

FOR six years Paul Fleming was infected with the hepatitis C virus which, left untreated, often leads to liver failure or cancer. Recently, a medicine became available that can eradicate the virus within a few weeks, but doctors couldn’t treat him because the £35,000 regimen was too costly for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Finally, late last year Fleming had had enough. “You have a contagious disease and it always preys on your mind,” he says. So he took a radical step: with his doctor’s help

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